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Save
the
Mongolian Saiga Antelope while we still can

Until 10 years ago, the
Saiga antelope was the symbol for the steppes of Central Asia. This is
unfortunately no longer the case. Between 1980 and 2000, the species decreased
from more than a million to 90,000 animals and it considered the most threatened
large mammal o f Central- and Middle
Asia. There are two subspecies: Saiga
tatarica tatarica, which occurs in Kalmykia,
(Russian Federation), and in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan), and Saiga
tatarica mongolica, which occurs only in Mongolia (Great Lakes Basin), which
makes it an endemic species. All populations decreased dramatically over the last 20 years (1980
-2000) from 1 million to about 90.000 (E.J.Milner-Gullard et.al., 2001).

The Mongolian Saiga is the most threatened subspecies and classified as endangered in the
endangered species Red Data Book of the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN. From 1996-2000, the species made
a remarkable comeback thanks to favourable weather conditions and anti-poaching operations
supported by WWF Mongolia. This led to
a remarkable increase of the Saiga population to about 5000 individuals. Sadly
enough, the progress was rapidly lost, when due to lack of funds for anti-poaching activities, summer droughts and severe winters
in 2000 and 2001, caused a dramatic crash of the population to about 800
individuals in a short time. Since then, the situation has been desperate: the species
now occupies just 20% of its historical range and is close to extinction.

Rangers supported by
the Mongolian WWF brought the herds back to 5000 animals by the year 2000

Trading with Saiga horns to China, for use in traditional
medicine, is another of the main reasons why the species is so severely hunted. It
is crucial to stop this trade at all levels. Poaching has lead to a rapid decline of the population and a
dramatic change in the sex ratio, due to hunting of males (females do not carry
horns), resulting in much fewer females getting pregnant. WWF Mongolia supported the training of
custom officers and cooperates with the Ministry of the Environment to monitor
the market, to identify illegal traders and to create awareness. Cooperation has
also been established with the Gobi National Park in controlling illegal trade
along the border with China.

The Market
for traditional medicine in Chengdu, Sichuan Province in China where Saiga
horns; lizards; and other wild animal parts are sold

Reducing
habitat competition with livestock: Habitat competition is an other cause
for the decline of the species. Poor winter pastures, caused by overgrazing by
domestic animals in autumn, has led to mass starvation, in particular during
winters with extreme weather conditions. It is necessary to introduce
sustainable pasture management in order to improve the Saiga’s habitat,
especially in autumn and spring. This can be achieved in cooperation with local
people, for instance, by paying for compensations for leaving critical Saiga habitats
free from livestock. This is being explored right now with the regional
authorities and the relevant herder communities.

But
most and for all, the
anti-poaching operations are essential. With the population of the animal so
low, we can't effort losing another animal to poaching. : Illegal hunting in one of the major threats.

Adopt
A Ranger targets to raise funds for the salaries and operating costs of Nine
Saiga honorary Saiga Rangers. They try their best, but they are completely under
funded, operating with their private means (motorbikes for which WWF pays the
petrol) and without any official status. Equipment needs are: Motorbikes,
radios, field equipment (tents, binoculars, and sleeping bags), uniforms,
cameras and GPS.

If we want to safe the Mongolian Saiga they need to protect the grazing free areas,
control illegal trade and for a successful restocking of
the population it is necessary to put a halt to the poaching. This can only be achieved by an effective,
well trained and motivated anti-poaching operation. Adopt A Ranger targets the
funding of the rangers as well as a mobile antipoaching brigade as one of its first financing projects.

If all
goes as planned, the funding will have the following results:

A
well equipped, properly trained and motivated ranger force stops poaching of
Saiga throughout the Saiga range.

A
stable population of the Mongolian Saiga between 3.500 to 4.000 specimen
reestablished by 2009.

Agreements
with herders on livestock free areas throughout the Saiga range are being
respected.

Illegal
trade in Saiga horn is significantly reduced, indicator for this is a well
balanced sex ratio of the Saiga population.

Local
people support Saiga conservation by respecting agreements on livestock free
areas and reporting on illegal activities.

With continuously changing exchange rates between Euros and US
Dollars, there are some difference between the mentioned values in €
and $. We apologize that we can't continuously change the values and
use nearby equivalents in rounded off figures.

Contact us by email if you are concerned
about the legitimacy of a fundraiser or the appropriateness of the
fundraising methods applied.

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Adopt A Ranger Inc.
is incorporated in West Virginia, USA, registered under control
number 90701 enjoying exemption of Federal income tax under section
501 (c) (3) and in the Netherlands Stichting Adopt A Ranger under
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